Bucket-clip for wire-rope tramways



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet .1

0. T. FINLAYSON.

BUCKET CLIP FOR WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

No. 444,408. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

' A T TORI/E Y.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. C. T. FINLAYSON. BUCKET CLIP FOR WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

Patented Jan. 6

ATTORNEY.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE. A

CHRISTOPHER T. FINLAYSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BUCKET-CLIP FOR WIRE-ROPE TRAMWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,408, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,377. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER T. FIN- LAYSON, a citizen of the United States of America residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Securing the Buckets to the Cable of Wire-Rope-Tramway Systems; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved device or clip whereby the buckets are secured to the cable of wire-rope tramways in such systems as have an endless cable passing around large horizontal sheaves located at the upper and lower terminals.

The object of myimproved device is to permit the use of overhead sheaves for guiding the cable, the clip being so constructed as to pass under said sheave as Well as over the supporting-sheave without obstruction, the clip being at the same time simple in construction, economical in cost, and reliable anddurable in operation.

To these ends my invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my invention, in which drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating abucket secured to a cable by means of my improved clip, the cable being also shown in connection with a supporting and an overhead sheave. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of my improved clip, il1ustrating the relative positions of the parts while passing over the supporting-sheave, a segment of which is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relative position of the parts of the device while passing under the overhead sheave. Fig. 5 is a rear view of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view of Fig.4. Fig. 7 is a top view of the device, illustrating the same in connection with the cable while pass ing around one of the terminal wheels. Fig.

8 is a section taken through the clip on the line w 51;, Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 9 is an elevation in detail of a wedge forming part of the device and adapted to grasp the cable.

The advantage of the mechanism shown in the drawings will be better understood by reference to some of the cases in which my improvement will be found valuable-for instance, in crossing deep gulches, which are too wide for the use of a single span and too deep to admit of supports built to the eatenary that the suspended cable would assume, or in descending a steep hill terminating abruptly in a plain. In such cases by the use of my improved clip the derricks carrying the supporting-sheaves may be built much lower and of a height more nearly uniform. The cable on such parts of the tramway is made to turn an abrupt angle, being held down by one or more overhead sheaves. Were it not for the overhead sheaves the cable, instead of making an abrupt turn corresponding with the surface of the ground, would rise and assume a catenary, the deflection of which would depend. 011 the strain put upon the cable. The derricks carrying the supporting-sheaves would have to be built to suit this curve, and the height in some instances would be so great that the construction of the derricks would be impracticable.

In the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters indicate corresponding elements, let the numeral 1 designate the Wire rope or cable of the tramway; 2, the vertical supporting-sheave; 3, the similar overhead sheave; 4, the bucket; 5, the pendant supporting the bucket and connected with the clip, and (5 one of the large horizontal terminal wheels.

The construction of the clip which makes it possible touse the overhead sheave-wheels will now be described in detail.

Let the numeral 8 designate a spring-clamp, which surrounds the cable. This clamp is closed at the bottom, but sufficiently open at the top to permit adjustment to any desired extent, whereby the clamp may be made to conform to the size of the cable,which stretches and grows smaller by use. Let the opening in the top of clamp 8 be designated by the numeral 9. recesses 1O 10, formed on the interior of each This clamp is also provided with jaw and located above the cavity for the reception of the cable and on each side of opening 0. A side view of these recesses is outlined by dotted lines in Fig. Within the opening formed by the recesses 10 there is placed a wedge 11. (Shown in elevation in Fig. 9.) The lower surface of this wedge engages the cable and is provided with the short spiral-shaped lugs 12 12, adapted to lie between the strands of the same. The top of the wedge is provided with the double-inclined faces 13 13, sloping gradually from an apex 14'.

The clamp and its wedge are adjusted and tightened upon the cable by means of rivets or bolts 15 15, passing transversely through the clamp, each engaging one of the inclined faces of the wedge, thereby locking the same securely in position. This construction prevents the movement of the cable in either direction within the clamp. The upper face of the clamp forms an inclined plane tapering from the rear toward the front, where it is lowest. This construction facilitates the passage of the clip under the overhead sheave, which travels up this inclination of the clamp to engagement with the rear portion of the device, as hereinafter described.

The rear extremity of part 8 is provided with a pair of twin lugs 16 10, projecting backward and lying above the cable when in position. These lugs form the male portion of a hinge. The female portion of this hinge consists of parts 17 17, formed integral with the rear portion of the clip, which portion I will designate by the numeral 18. The parts 16 and 17 of the hinge are united by a suitable pin 19. Part 18 extends backward from its hinged extremity and is fashioned on its under side to engage the cable, as shown at 20, when pressed down by the overhead sheave, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Part 18 is provided with a side arm 21, extending outward and forward, being so fashioned as to clear the supportingsheave. The forward extremity 22 of this arm is provided with a box 23 for the reception of the upper horizontal portion of the curved pendant 5, supporting the bucket. This extremity of the pendant is secured within its box, but is permitted to turn freely therein, thus allowing the bucket a swinging movement. Box 23, supporting the pendant, is so located that a direct line passed through its longitudinal center and produced will lie somewhat forward of a similar line passed through the corresponding center of hinge-pin 19, connecting parts 8 and 18 of the device. By reason of this eccentricity the weight of the bucket or the load attached to the pendant causes the rear portion 18 of the device to rise and nor mally maintain a position of sufficientupward inclination from the hinging point to escape engagement with the supporting-sheave as the clip passes over the same. This position of part 18 is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the drawings.

Part 8 of the clip passes readily under the overhead sheave, as before explained. As soon as part 18 eugagesthissheave, said part. is pressed downward to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, permitting the clip to pass readily under the sheave.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A device for securing the bucket-pendant to the cable of a wire tramway system, said device consisting of a clamping portion 8 and a partlS, hinged to part8 and provided with a side projection or wing supporting the bucket-pendant, the center of support being so located that a horizontal line passed therethrough and produced will lie forward of the hinging center of the parts, substantially as described.

2. A clip for securing the pendent arm to the cable of wire tramway systems, said clip consisting of an adjustable spring-clamp 8, open at the top and provided with a socket for the cable and suitable means of tightening the clamp securely upon the cable, a part 18, hinged to part 8 and provided with a side projection or wing supporting the bucketpendant, the center of support for the pendant being so located that a horizontal line passed therethrough shall lie forward of the hinging center of parts 8 and 1S, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A clip for securing the bucket-pendant to a wire tramway-cable, said clip consisting of an adjustable clamp, open at the top and provided with a cavity for the cable in its lower portion and a recess located in its upper portion, a wedge 11, lying within said recess and provided with lugs on its under surface engaging the cable, means of tightening the clamp, and an arm 18, hinged to the clamp and provided with a side wing or projection supporting the bucket-pendant, the center of support being somewhat eccentric with the hinging center of parts 8 and 18, whereby part 18 assumes an upward inclination, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A clip for securing the bucket-arm to the cable of wire tramway systems, said clip consisting of a clamp 8, provided with a cavity for the cable and a recess above said cavity, a Wedge lying within said recess and provided with double inclined faces on its upper surface and spiral-shaped lugs on its lower surface, rivets or bolts passing transversely through the clamp above the wedge and engaging each face thereof, whereby the clamp is tightened upon the cable, an arm 18, hinged to part 8 and provided with a side projection or wing supporting the bucket-arm, the center of support lying somewhat eccentrio with thehinging center of the parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a wire tramway system, the combination, with suitable supporting and overhead sheaves, of a clip consisting of a clamp made fast to the cable and an arm hinged to the rear extremity of the clamp and provided with a side projection or wing carrying abox presence of two Witnesses.

for the reception of the upper extremity of r T T T the bucket-arm, the center of said box being CHRISTOPHER FIB LAX somewhat eccentric with the hinging' center Witnesses:

of the parts, substantially as and for the pur- R. STILLWELL,

pose set forth. R. A. ALLRED.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in 

